Australia under attack

The end in sight

The danger of invasion has passed.Prime Minister John Curtin, 27 September 1943

The expanding Japanese empire had reached Australian shores in 1942. Japan’s
navy had been defeated at sea, and its army on land. In 1943 the campaign
to drive them back began.

Throughout the year there were occasional invasion scares, but attacks against
northern Australia became less frequent. Many Australians were still serving
overseas and their loved ones at home endured their absence and lived in dread
of the telegrams that could mean injury or death. While the build-up of Allied
personnel around the country added to the feeling of security, the signs of
war were still part of daily life. But despite rationing, “brownout” and other
austerity measures, the spirit of the community remained buoyant.

At home Australians maintained their maximum effort, no longer for survival,
but for victory.